Introduction

Bessie Peach had a tumultuous childhood. Due to their parents’ inability to support them, Bessie and her sister, Rosa, moved in with their great-aunt, Ann Reid, at Partway House in Hardington. Although Bessie was later reunited with her parents, their family continued to experience upheaval. After Bessie married, her parents separated, and her mother came to live with her at Weymouth. Her husband served with a supernumerary company during the First World War, but sadly, he passed away in 1916 from tuberculosis. His death had a significant impact on the family, and although Bessie had four daughters, only one of them ended up marrying.

Childhood

Bessie was born on 29 July 1882 at Codford St Mary, a village located seven miles southeast of Warminster, the youngest of six children born to George and Susan Peach. Her mother was the daughter of John and Jane Swaffield.

Bessie’s father, George, was the only son of John Peach of North Holway Farm, Cattistock. When George was about 27, he experienced a severe shock when his father committed suicide. He was the second person on the scene to witness his father’s body hanging in a barn.[1]

This trauma probably had a profound and disruptive influence on his life. In April 1871, he was a farmer of 190 acres at Powerstock. However, just ten years later, he had become a farm labourer at Mosterton, and by July 1882, he was a gardener at Codford St Mary. Despite inheriting the interest on two mortgages of £200 from his mother in 1879, he never regained his previous status.[2]

By April 1891, the family’s situation had greatly deteriorated. George and Susan lived in lodgings at Muchelney, while their six children lived in different places. Joseph, John and James were working away from home, although James was only eleven years old. Emily Kate was in a home in Salisbury, and Rosa and Kate lived with their great aunt, Ann Read, at Partway Lane, Hardington. At this time, Bessie was 8 years old, and Rosa was 14.

When Bessie was eleven years old, her oldest brother, Joseph, died in Monmouthshire at the age of 23.

By March 1901, Bessie had rejoined her parents and was living with them at Willstock Cottages, North Petherton.

Married life

On 7 October 1907, she married George Eves at Bridgwater parish church. At the time of their marriage, George was 27 years old, and Bessie was 25. Both signed the marriage register.

The 1911 census recorded the couple living at 31 Ilchester Road, with Bessie’s mother, Susan, and their two daughters, Kathleen and Gwendolen. A third daughter, Dorothy, was born in 1914.

Susan had inherited the income from £300 for life from Ann Read, which helped to give her financial independence.[3]

First World War

George served with the 4th Battalion of the Dorset Regiment during the First World War, attaining the rank of corporal. He was part of a supernumerary company, which probably indicates that he was only fit for home duties. He may have been assigned to this company because he was already showing signs of tuberculosis.  He died at home on 26 September 1916 at the age of 36. His death was registered by Bessie’s sister, Rosa, who was present at the time, suggesting that the sisters maintained a close relationship.[4] T

Widowhood

Meanwhile, Bessie’s father had moved to Bridgwater and later to Mountain Ash, South Wales, where he died on 13 December 1917 at the age of 72. His estate was valued at £301 15s 9d, which he divided equally among his five children, leaving nothing to Susan.[5]

In June 1921, Bessie lived at 62 Chickerell Road, Weymouth, with her mother, three daughters, and two visitors, probably lodgers. Her mother died intestate on 13 January 1925 at the age of 81, leaving an estate valued at £351 4s 2d.

After Susan’s death, Bessie inherited an equal share of Ann Read’s bequest of £300 along with her four surviving siblings.[6]

In about 1935, Gwendoline married Harry Haines, a police constable. The other two daughters remained single.

Bessie continued to reside at 62 Chickerell Road, Weymouth, with her daughters, Kathleen and Dorothy.

She remained at that address until her death on 16 December 1957, at the age of 75. She left an estate valued at £1,771 8s 5d.

Children

Bessie and her husband had four daughters, one of whom died in infancy.

References

[1] Western Daily Press, 18 April 1873, p.3.

[2] The will of Elizabeth Peach, dated 29 January 1879, proved at Blandford on 16 June 1879.

[3] The will of Ann Read, dated 14 June 1889, proved at Taunton on 27 October 1897.

[4] Death certificate of George Eves.

[5] The will of George Peach, dated 8 August 1902, proved in London on 15 January 1918.

[6] The will of Ann Read, dated 14 June 1889, proved at Taunton on 27 October 1897. In 1925, all of Rosa’s siblings were alive except Joseph George, who died in 1893.